Jazz's Jeff Hornacek a candidate in Philadelphia, Charlotte

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Utah Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek has emerged as a candidate for vacant head coaching jobs in Philadelphia and Charlotte.

Hornacek could also become a factor in Phoenix's search for a coach, which will get serious once the Suns name a new general manager.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the 76ers received permission from the Jazz to discuss their job with Hornacek, who spent two seasons in Philadelphia during his 14-year playing career. Other known candidates to replace Doug Collins as coach of the Sixers are Golden State assistant Mike Malone and Indiana assistant Brian Shaw.

In Charlotte, the Bobcats are looking to replace Mike Dunlap, who was fired two weeks ago after only one season.

The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that L.A. Lakers assistant Steve Clifford has become the sixth known candidate for the job  joining former Phoenix head coach Alvin Gentry and four other assistants: Cleveland's Nate Tibbetts, Houston's Kelvin Sampson, the Suns' Elston Turner and Hornacek.

It's also possible Hornacek's name will surface in Phoenix.

The Suns have named three finalists for their general manager's job, including Boston assistant GM Ryan McDonough, Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman and San Antonio assistant GM Scott Layden.

Yes, that Scott Layden.

After two stints with the Jazz spanning 25 years, Layden left Utah a year ago to join the Spurs' front office.

Layden was the NBA's Executive of the Year in 1995. He helped build two teams in Utah which reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998.

Meanwhile, former Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan told Fox Sports Florida on Thursday he would be willing to return to the NBA "if I thought it was the right situation."

Sloan, who is 71, abruptly resigned on Feb. 20, 2011. He has been out of coaching since then, but in the last year has repeatedly expressed interest in returning under the right circumstances. Sloan has not been approached by any of the teams currently looking for a new coach, he said.